Detroit Moving Police & Fire Depts. Into Empty Casino

There are a lot of empty buildings in the Detroit area, but the beleaguered city’s mayor announced today that he’s found the perfect vacant space to house HQs for both the city’s police and fire departments — the old MGM Grand Detroit casino.

Says Mayor Dave Bing of the $6.32 million deal:

I am glad to finally be able to move our officers into a safe, sound and functional structure that is also citizen friendly and accessible… This represents an important step in making our city more operationally efficient … and safe.

In addition to the police and fire departments, the 400,000 sq. ft.building, which was left vacant after the 2007 opening of the newer and glitzier MGM Grand Detroit down the street, will also house the city’s crime lab.

The mayor, who had promised a new police HQ in his most recent State of the City address, expects renovation work on the building to be completed by fall 2012, though not everyone will be have to wait until then to move in.